Velocipede



July 3, 1934-. c KORTE 1,964,993

VELOCIPEDE Filed April 1, 1932 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l ALFRED C. KORTE INVENTOR F a e- 2 BY j W (ATTORNEY July 3, 1934. c KORTE 1,964,993

VBLOC I PEDE Filed April 1, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

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ALFRED C. KO RTE INVENTOR N A TTORNE Y Patented July 3, 1934 PATENT OFFICE VELOCIPEDE Alfred C. Korte, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Metalcraft llorporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application April 1, 1932, Serial No. 692,629

30 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in velocipedes, and more particularly to velocipedes of a design adaptable to being formed of sheet metal.

It has been customary in the art to make childrens velocipedes from standard bar and strip stock out and bent to suitable lengths and shapes. These constructions were invariably heavy, weak, and unsightly. Stronger and lighter constructions were also made by using tubular frame work, but such constructions are expensive and not entirely satisfactory.

It is an object of this invention to provide a generally new and improved design for a velocipede in which each part will be specially designed for the purpose for which it is intended with a view to producing a vehicle having the lightest possible weight, most attractive appearance, and greatest possible convenience in manufacturing.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved velocipede which may be constructed almost entirely from sheet metal fofmed and pressed to the proper shapes and sizes.

Other objects will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which like'reference numerals refer to like parts.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the velocipede according to one form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the velocipede shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view showing a side elevation of the velocipede frame and front fork assembly with parts shown in section and others broken away.

Figure a is a plan View of the frame shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an inverted plan view of the front end of the cross member forming the floor of the frame or saddle bar.

Figure 6 is a transverse section through the frame taken along line 66 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the rear axle.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the rear axle.

Figure 91is an end view of the rear axle shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along line 1(l10 of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is an inverted plan view showing the end of the rear axle.

Figure 12 is a plan view of one end of the rear axle showing a modification means for locking the rear wheels in place.

Figure 13 is an end view of the parts shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a side view of the adjustable seat post 5.

Figure 15 is a plan view of the seat post 5. Figure 16 is a transverse section through the seat post taken along line 1616 of Figure 14. 69

Referring to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates the saddle bar which forms the frame of the velocipede and extends from the rear axle to the front fork and supports the seat. It is preferably formed as a stamping from a single piece of sheet metal. Flanges 2 are provided extending throughout its length to receive an inverted channel shaped floor plate 3. Upon assembling, the flanges 2 are crimped, as indicated by dotted lines 37 in Figure 7 6, to hold the floor piece in position. The edges of the flanges 2 being turned up as at 3'7 just inside the edges of the channel 3 provide a very strong and rigid construction. It will benoted that the lower edges of the forward portion of the saddle bar are joined at the front, or in other words, the edge is continuous, to better resist the tendency of the opposite edges to spread when a weight is placed on the central part of the saddle bar. This construction also permits the formation of two spaced bearings for the steering post.

As will be seen from Figure 6; the saddle bar is of substantiallyinverted U or V-shaped cross section with the height slightly greater than the width. This is for the reason that the greatest strain comes in a vertical direction, and a greater strength may be secured with the use of a given weight of metal by this construction. Of course, great strength in combination with light weight could also be obtained with a member of I-beam construction, but it would be more difli-= cult to obtain a proper distribution of strength {with an I-beam, and also the application of the saddle, front fork, and rear axle would be more difilcult. Also, by making the frame of sheet metal, a very attractive stream line appearance may be obtained. 1

It will be noted that the saddle bar is formed with an upward extension 34 in the central porloll tion thereof which is drawn from the sheet metal and formed with a vertical opening '2 to receive the saddle post, and, also, a second upward extension 35 at the front end to give greater strength to the front fork bearing. The saddle bar is of substantially T shape longitudinally, the cross h portion of the T extending to the right and left, as indicated at 36, to fit over and be welded to the rear axle.

A seat post 5 also formed from sheet metal and lid having a seat 6 either spot welded or attached in any suitable manner thereto is slidably mounted in the opening 7. Seat 6 is also formed as a stamping from a single piece of metal. Holes 8, as indicated in Figure 14, are formed in the seat post together with a cross bolt or set screw 9 in the frame, forming a means of adjusting the seat. The rear axle 10 of sheet metal, and being of inverted V or U section in the center and circular section at the ends, is rigidly attached to frame 1 at two spaced points 4 by spot welding or in any other suitable manner. It is, however, preferable to spot-weld throughout in the construction of this velocipede where practical for reasons of strength as well as appearance and economy.

The fork 11 is provided with a tubular and forked lower steering post 13 which is attached to the fork by spot welding or other suitable means. The lower steering post extends into the lower end of the tubular formed upper steering post 12, as indicated in Figure 3. As will be seen in Figure 3, the lower end of the upper steering post 12 and the upper end 13 of the fork are pivotally mounted in separate bearings 25 and 26, respectively, bearing 25 being formed as a downwardly extending flange in frame 1, and bearing 26 being formed as an upwardly extending flange in cover plate 3. It will also be seen that bearing 26 is of smaller diameter than the lower end of upper steering post 12, thus forming a lower thrust bearing for the front wheel and handle-bar assembly, as indicated at 27.

The rotation of the fork 11 with respect to the upper steering post 12 is prevented by reason of keyway 15, as indicated in Figure 3, and lugs forming a key 16.

Handle-bar 29 is formed from a single piece of sheet metal having tubular formed ends, to provide for the mounting of rubber hand grips. The handle bar is, generally speaking, of inverted U section, but the section at the center is substantially widened and deepened, partly for the purpose of setting the handle bar forward, and partly for greater strength at the center where it is needed.

Rear wheels 24 are mounted on the tubular shaped ends of the rear axle and are held in place by lugs 32 which are forced into the position shown in Figure 10 upon assembly. A front wheel 19 is mounted in fork 11 by means of a shaft 43 which is suitably bent, as indicated at 18, to receive the rubber pedals 44 which are held in place by means of lugs 45.

A modification of this method of attaching the rear wheelsis shown in Figures 12 and 13 in which lugs 33 are forced into the position shown dotted upon assembly.

I claim:

1. A velocipede having a saddle bar of substantially inverted V section, a rear axle of substantially inverted V section, substantially cylindrical wheel receiving formations at the ends of said axle and integral therewith, and means for attaching said saddle bar to said axle.

2. A saddle bar for a velocipede comprising a sheet metal member of substantially inverted V section and having an integral upwardly extending portion between the ends thereof, said upward extension having a saddle post receiving opening therein, the edges of the v being bent upwardly to form a reinforcing element, and then bent towards each other to form an attaching element.

3. A saddle bar for a velocipede comprising a member of substantially inverted V section and having an integral upwardly extending portion between the ends thereof, said upward extension having a saddle post receiving opening therein, and a transverse extension at the rear end of said saddle bar to receive a rear axle.

4. A saddle bar for velocipedes comprising a sheet metal member having a convex upper side and a concave lower side, outwardly and downwardly turned flanges at the lower side of said saddle bar, and a cross member fitting within said flanges and resting against the lower side of the outwardly turned portions thereof.

5. A saddle bar for velocipedes comprising a sheet metal member having a convex upper side and concave lower side, outwardly and downwardly turned flanges at the lower side of, said saddle bar, and a cross member fitting within said flanges and resting against the lower side of the outwardly. turned portions thereof, said flanges being turned inwardly below said floor member.

6. A saddle bar for velocipedes comprising a sheet metal member having a substantially convex upper surface and a concave lower surface. flanges at the lower edges of said member, said flanges being turned, first, outwardly and, then, downwardly, a floor member extending longitudinally of said saddle bar and having its edges resting against the lowe side of the outwardly turned portion of said flanges, and the downwardly turned portion of said flanges having parts thereof crimped or curled under the edges of said floor member to form a rigid assembly.

'7. A saddle bar for velocipedes comprising a sheet metal member having a convex upper surface and downwardly turned sides, a channel shaped floor member fitting within the lower edges of said convex member, the longitudinal edges of said convex member being turned inwardly and upwardly to engage the inner edges of the channel shaped member.

8. A velocipede comprising a sheet metal rear axle, a sheet metal saddle bar, said saddle bar having outwardly extending portions contacting with said rear axle at substantially spaced points, and means for attaching said extensions to said axles at said points.

9. A velocipede comprising a sheet metal rear axle member, and a sheet metal saddle bar rigidly connected to the rear axle member,-said saddle bar having laterally extending flanges formed of the sheet metal, and welded to the axle member.

10. A saddle bar for velocipedes comprising a sheet metal member having a convex upper side and a concave lower side, said saddle bar having a perforation near the front end thereof, the sheet metal surrounding said perforation being pressed into hollow cylindrical shape to form an upper bearing for a steering post.

11. A saddle bar for velocipedes comprising a sheet metal member having a convex upper side and a concave lower side, said saddle bar having a perforation near the front end thereof, the sheet metal surrounding said perforation being pressed into hollow cylindrical shape to form an upper bearing for a steering post, and a lower steering post bearing member extending between the outer forward edges of the saddle bar below said upper bearing.

12. A saddle bar and rear axle assembly for velocipedes comprising a transverse axle member formed of sheet metal and having a convex upper side, wheel supporting means at each end of said transverse member, a longitudinal saddle bar member formed of sheet metal and having a convex upper side, the rear end of the saddle bar being joined to the central part of the axle member.

13. A saddle bar and rear axle assembly for velocipedes comprising a transverse axle member formed of sheet metal and having a convex upper side, wheel supporting means at each end of said transverse member, a longitudinal saddle bar member formed of sheet metal and having a convex upper side, the rear end of the saddle bar being joined to the central part of the axle member, the rear end of the saddle bar corresponding in formation to and being secured to the convex upper side of the rear axle member.

14. An axle member formed from sheet metal and having the outer end portions being formed in the shape of hollow cylindrical bearing portions, the central part of the axle having its forward and rearward edges turned downwardly to form a substantially inverted U shaped cross section.

15. A velocipede having a rear axle formed of a single sheet of metal, the ends of said axle being curled into a tubular formation, the central portion of said axle being of inverted U section, and lugs integral with said curled edges, said lugs being adapted to be turned up to prevent the removal of the wheels.

16. An axle member formed from sheet metal and having integral hollow cylindrical bearing portions at each end thereof, the central part of the axle having its forward and rearward edges turned downwardly to form a substantially inverted U shaped cross section, the outer ends of the bearing portions being castellated to form wheel retaining means.

17. A saddle bar forvelocipedes comprising a sheet metal member with downwardly turned edges forming a convex upper side and concave lower side, a floor member joining the downturned edges, and said sheet metal member being formed with inturned flanges along said edges below the door member, said flanges being adapted to support the closure member and being rigidly attached thereto.

18. A frame for velocipedes comprising a sheet metal rear axle, the front and rear edges of the metal forming the central part of said rear axle being turned downwardly but spaced apart, a sheet metal saddle bar extending upwardly and forwardly from the central part of said axle, the edges of the forwardly extending portion being turned downwardly but spaced apart, and the forward ends of the downturned edges of the saddle bar being joined, the spaced-apart portions of the saddle bar being secured to'the spaced-apart portions of the axe.

19. A saddle bar for velocipedes comprising 'a sheet metal member having a convex upper surface and downwardly turned sides, a channel shaped floor member fitting within the lower edges of said member, the longitudinal edges of said convex member being bent into engagement with the inner edges of the channel shaped member. r

20. A velocipede comprising a sheet metal rear axle member, a sheet metal saddle bar rigidly connected to the rear axle member, said saddle bar having laterally extending flanges formed of the sheet metal and attached to the axle, and said saddle bar having an extension which ex-' tends over the central part of the rear axle and rearwardly thereof.

212 A velocipede comprising a sheet metal rear axle member, and a sheet metal saddle bar, said saddle bar having lateral extensions fitting over the rear axle and rigidly attached thereto, said saddle bar being of substantially inverted V shaped section, and a reinforcing member mounted between and rigidly connected to the downwardly extending edges of the saddle bar.

22. A velocipede comprising a sheet metal rear axle member, and a sheet metal saddle bar, said saddle bar having lateral extensions fitting over the rear axle and rigidl'y attached thereto, said saddle bar being of substantially inverted V shaped section, and a reinforcing member mounted between and rigidly connected to the downwardly extending edges of the saddle bar, said saddle bar and said reinforcing member having registering perforations to form steering post bearings.

23. A velocipede frame comprising a rear axle and a saddle bar, said rear axle consisting of sheet metal bent to the form of an inverted V, and a saddle bar of sheet metal of inverted V shape, the rear edges of the saddle bar being so formed as to closely fit over the upper face of the axle member, and being rigidly attached thereto.

24. A velocipede frame comprising a rear axle and a saddle bar, said rear axle consisting of sheet metal bent to the form of an inverted V, and a saddle bar of sheet metal of inverted V shape, the rear edges of the saddle bar being so 105 formed as to closely fit over the upper face of the axle member, and being rigidly attached thereto, the outer ends of said rear axle member being curled into a cylindrical shape to form bearing portions. 1

25. .A velocipede frame comprising a rear axle and a saddle bar, said rear axle consisting of sheet metal bent to the form of an inverted V, and a saddle bar of sheet metal of inverted V shape, the rear edges of the saddle bar being so formed as to closely iit over the upper face of the axle member, and being rigidly attached thereto, the outer ends of said rear axle member being curled into a cylindrical shape to form bearing portions, and the forward end of thesaddle bar being perforated to form a steering post bearing.

26-. A velocipede frame comprising an axle member and a saddle bar, said axle member consisting of sheet metal bent to the form of an inverted V, and a saddle bar of sheet metal of: inverted V shape, the rear edges of the saddle bar being formed toclosely fit over the upper face of the axle member and being rigidly attached thereto, and a sheet metal reinforcing member joining the downwardly extending edges of the saddle bar.

27. A saddle bar and rear axle assembly for velocipedes comprising a transverse axle member formed of sheet metal and having a convex upper side, wheel supporting means at each end of said transverse member, a longitudinal saddle bar member formed of sheet metal and having a convex upper side, the rear end of the saddle bar being joined to the central part of the axle member, the rear end of the saddle bar corresponding in formation to and being secured to the convex upper side of the rear axle member, said securing means being on opposite sides of the center of the axle.

28. .An axle member formed from sheet metal and having the outer end portions formed in the shape of hollow cylindrical bearing portions, the parts of the axle adjacent to the bearing portions being of substantially inverted V shaped cross section.

shape 01' hollow cylindrical bearing portions, the parts of the axle adjacent the end portions being turned downwardly to form a substantially inverted V shaped cross section, and lugs cut from the sheet metal bearing portions, said lugs being adapted to be turned up to retain the wheels on the axle.

ALFRED C. KORTE. 

